Harrow



di@ Model.)

` A, J'. SPRAGUB.

HARROWQ :Nm 321,458, Pate-med July ff, 1885.

WW1/eases: mi

UNITED STATES ALBERT J. SPRAGUE, OF OLARING'ION,

PATnnT Ottica..

OHIO.

HARROW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,458, dated July 7,1885.

Application filed October 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clarington, in the county of Monroe and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Harrows, of which the followingis a specifica-tion.

My improvement relates to revolving harrows, as presently shown andexplained by the following drawings and specilication.

Figure l is a top view. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of thedraft-beam and the spindle upon which the same revolves when saiddraft-beam is in its true position on the harrow, taken in theline ofyy, Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa crossvertical sectional view taken in the rear ofthe draft-beam ci and spindle A. Fig. 2, in the line of m cv, Fig. l,showing the arrangement used to change the rotation of the harrow. Figs.4. and 5 are sectional views showing the tooth-fastening devices.

The main point of my improvement consists in the ease and ready mannerwith which the rotation of the harrow can be changed, suited both tolevel and hilly land, to work either automatically or to be readilycontrolled by hand, as hereinafter explained.

Aside from my improvement, my harrow revolves upon a spindle like otherrotary harrows in use, the construction of which is well known to thoseskilled in this art. I prefer, however, to run all the beams to point toand meet at one common center, and to hold the beams rmly together Ibolt them between two iron plates, A and O, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and whichmay be further strengthened with iron bands, like D, Fig. l, bolted tothe beams.

To the upper plate, A, is fastened a spindle to answer as a revolvinghub for the rotation of the harrow, and to which the end of thedraft-beam a is attached, secured at the upper end of the spindle with awasher and pin, as shown at A, Fig. 2.

I am fully aware that the above last-described construction is old, andtherefore I do not claim it, but only my combination, which consists ofa traveling weight supported on wheels upon a frame, cl, which isattached to the rear of the said draft-beam a, across or at right 5oangles with the same, on a pivot or pin, a,

Figs. 2 and 3, and which frame d is supported on casterwheels B", one ofwhich comes to a bearing on plate A, Figs. 1 and 3, when the motion ischanged.

I am also aware that others use wheels t0 relieve the spindle fromfriction and strain, but not in the mannervdescribed by me.

It is plain to be seen from the above construction that saidweight-frame d has two motions-one horizontal, the other au upand downtilting motion, so to speak-that is to say, said frame d being fastenedto the rear end of the said draft-beam, as explained, must follow it asit turns horizontally supported on one of said wheels B, and also as thesaid Weight-frame, standing in a line at right angles with thedraft-beam, turning on a pivot, c, Figs. 2 and 3, will tilt down whenthe harrow is used on hilly land by reason of the traveling wheels B onsaid frame, by their own gravity, running to the lower side tdoverloalance the weight, to change the motion of the harrow.

The said wheels B are attached to a kind of framework to travel on theweight-frame d, the construction of which is plainly shown by Fig. 3.

No particular form is required for the successful working of saidwheels, and it is immaterial whether the weight is on the frame whichholds the wheels or the wheels themselves are made sufficiently heavy tooverhalance said frame d, and therefore I do not limit myself to anyprecise mode of construction.

While it is a matter of ease for a barrow to work automatically on hillyland, cases often arise where the incline of the ground is notsufficient to overbalance the weight to change the rota-tion; but withmy arrangement described, by the merest lift of the hand, the saidweight-frame can be tilted over to control the motion.

Fig. -i is a vertical sectional view across the barrow-beam, and Fig. 5is a horizontal sectional View.

Experience has shown that unless a tooth be rmly secured to thebarrow-beam it will soon he wrenched off in striking roots or stones,Sto. I overcome this difficulty by using two washers, each with a doublelip, and place one on each side of the beam to clasp it firmly, andthrough saidwashers I run a bolt hori- IOC zontally, vwith a .Verticalyeye at one end, to pvoted to the rear of draft-beam a, in oomb- 1o holdthe tooth, with a nut on the bolt to tighten nation with the travelingWeighted wheels B the same, as shown by tooth C, bolt E, washand thecaster-Wheels B, constructed substaners E, and nut e, Fig. 4. tially inthe manner described, and for the 5 I do not claim my said invention,broadly; purposes set forth.

but ALBERT J. SPRAGUE.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Witnesses: Letters Patent, is-R. G. TIMMoNs,

The self-adjusting tilting weight-frame d, JOHN AVERMAL.

